Means for expanding and contracting demountable rims.



'J. H. WAGENHORST.

MEANS FOR EXPANDING-AND CONTRACTING DEMOUNTABLE RIMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23,1913.

1,230,543. Patented Julie 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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I 1. H. WAGEN-HORST. MEANS FOR EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING DEMOUNTABLE RIMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23| I913- Patented June 19, 1917.

2 sums-sum 2 7 U D-S TESPA ENT men JAMES H. waemmons'r, or AKRON, 01110.

MEANS FOR EXPANDING AND' CONTRACTING DEMOUNTAIBLE RIMS.

,To all whomz't mag concern: r g i V Be it lmown that I JAMES H'. WAoEN-' HORST,- a citizen of the ing at Akron, in the county-of Summit and:

United' States, resid- State of Ohio, have invented anew? and useful Improvement in Means for Expanding and Contracting Demountable .Rirns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to wheels and more particularly to automobile. wheels and the special feature of the invention pertains to a demountable rim .for connection with a V spokes and a metal The objectof thefinvention isitoprovide' split metal rimfor use upon a,continuous metal rim, said split rim being provided with an exceedingly simple and highly efficient means for quickly and easily expanding and contractin said rim so that it can be quickly and easi y removed and replaced and looked upon the wheel. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a demountable rim carrying. means for expanding and contracting the same which means are adapted for cooperation with the metal rim upon which the split rim is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rim with fastening and unfastening means of such construction that the valve stem of the tire will not be disturbed during any of the manipulations of the rim expanding and contracting means.

With these various ob ects in View, my invention consists essentially in providing a divided rim with inwardly extending lugs adjacent the meeting edges of'said rim, one of said lugs having a screw working therethrough and bearing upon the opposite-lug,

said lugs and screw being adapted to pass through an opening produced in the metal rim, the construction and arrangement of these parts being such that by turning the screw in one direction the divided rim will be expanded and by turning the screw in the opposite direction the rim will be contracted. The invention consists also in the various features of construction, combination and Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the practical wheel consistingof wooden.

- '4 4:OfFlg.l.

Fig. 5 is a face view of aLwheel embodying application of my invention to an automo- Specification of Ietters Patent. Patented J 1 1 9, 19, 1917, V A Application filed August 23, 1918. .Serial No. 786,315.

bile wheel embodying wooden spokes anda metallic rim.

Fig. 2 is a detail face view of a portion of the rim, together with the expandingand contracting means connected thereto, and,

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing said rim arranged upon the metallic rim and also showing the cooperation of the rim and the rim expanding and contracting means, this view being a detail sectional view on the line 3,3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view 'my improved construction.

- F1g. 6 is a detail, view of the wrench use in connection with therim expanding and contracting means for operating the same. Fig. 7 is an end view of the same, and, Fig. 8 shows a modified form of turning means.

In the practical application of my invention I preferably employ a wheel comprising. wooden spokes A having their inner ends A made Wedge-shaped and beveled alternately in opposite directions as fully described in my application for wheel filed of even date herewith. The outer ends of these spokes'A -fit into a metallic rim B which may be of any desired cross-sectional shape or formation. The rim 0 is divided obliquely at G and this metal rim may be of E which coincides with an opening E produced in the rim for the purpose of permitting the passage of the valve stem of the tire. The lug D has a threaded opening produced therein in which works a screw F carrying a wheel G, the opposite end of this screw being devoid of threads and slightly tapered as shown at F and seating in a tapered recess or socket F produced in the on the line adjacent face of the lug E. The opening H is produced in the rim B, said opening being of such size and shape as to receive the lugs D and E, and screw F and also provide ample space for the insertion of the jaws I of the ratchet wrench hereinafter referred to.

It will be noted that the opening H at one end is shaped with a recessed portion H to receive the lug E and at the opposite end is shaped with a recess H to receive the end of the screw F. When the rim C is placed upon the rim B the lugs D and E will pass through the opening H, the lug E occupying the end :H while the end of the screw carried by the lug D will have its threaded end enter the end H of the opening H. The smooth and tapered end of the screw will rest in the tapered recess of the lug E and the ratchet wheel G which is integral with the screw will rest between the lugs D and E.

It is obvious from this construction that by turnin the screw in one direction the lugs will lie caused to move toward each other contracting the rim and when turned in the opposite direction the lugs will be caused to separate thereby expanding the rim. The screw is held between the lug E and the opposite end of the felly opening and it is obvious that as the screw cannot move longitudinally the rotation of this screw will cause the lug D to travel back and forth upon the same and whereby the rim is expanded and contracted. \Vhen the screw has been turned so as to move the lug D toward the end H of the opening H the rim is not only expanded but when the lug D has traveled as far as it can the extreme end of the screw is brought slightly away from the end H and the rim can be quickly and easily demounted from the wheel. \Vhen the rim is replaced and the screw is turned in the opposite direction the lug D is caused to travel toward the lug E and thereby contracts the rim tightly upon the fixed rim B and at the completion of the operation the end of the screw is bearing forcibly against the end H thereby serving to not only bind the rim upon the fixed rim B circumferentially but also provide a binding contact against the fixed rim B. The lug E remaining practically stationary during the manipulation the valve stem which passes through the openings E and E is not disturbed and the tire can be carried along with the rim when said rim is demounted.

For the purpose of quickly and easily manipulating the screw 1 provide not only the ratchet wheel (i but also the double headed spring pawl ratchet I. one head being preftl'2ll)l arranged at 'a right angle to the handle while the other is arranged at an oblique angle to facilitate the manipulation of the wrench, it b ing understood to move the screw one head is applied to one side of the ratchet wheel and the handle worked back and forth to move the screw in one direc- -wrench I can provide the screw with an apertured boss G into which a spike G can be introduced for the purpose of turning the same. By reference to Fig. 8,,it will be noted that I utilize the lug E as a convenient means for attaching the valve stem cover K and if desired other forms of covers' may be employed not only for the valve stem but for the rim expanding and con tractin means.

It W1 1 be noted that the screw is carried by one of the lugs connected to the rim and consequently the said screw is always in position for manipulation in the desired direction, and it is not necessary to remove this screw nor is it necessary to remove and reverse the other parts in order to effect all of the manipulations of the device.

It should also be noted that the movements of the screw are longitudinal or in line with the rim instead of beingradial or at right angles to the rim.

It will also be noted that various forms of locking devices such as a. latch or other device may be employed for locking the screw against reverse rotation.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a wheel provided with my improved rim expanding and contracting means and it will be noted that the rim is provided with a notch L directly opposite the opening H into which the screw driver or other convenient tool can be inserted for the purpose of assisting the demounting operation, it being understood that of course the wheel is turned so as to throw this notch uppermost. m From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will beclearly understood that I provide an exceedingly simple and highly efficient means for expanding and contracting a demountable rim which is particularly adapted for use in connection with a metallic fixed rim but it will of course be understood that it can be used in connection with other forms of rims and it will also be understood that the details of consguction can be varied or modified Within definite limits without departing from the broad principle of my invention.

The lugs of the rim entering and resting within the opening in the fixed rim also lug one end of said screw bearing against the adjacent end of said opening in the fixed rim, the opposite end of said screw bearing I against the other lug, said screw having a 15 portion between the lugs for engagement with an operating tool.

JAMES H. WAGEN'HQRST.

Witnesses: CHAS. E. BROOK,

Enwoon O. WAGENHORST. 

